Sure we have hands on a clock, dates on a calendar, and years to count how old we are, but really what is it?
2006-07-27 12:46:22 · 16 answers · asked by cancerman 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Pieces of eternity measured in human emotion.
2006-07-27 15:06:50 · answer #1 · answered by sharptooth3 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Time is an incremental measurement of decay. At the beginning of time the universe was in a high state of order with an even dispersion of gas throughout. Entropy states that all things must break down from a higher to lower order towards chaos. Therefore the gas started to clump and compress and form stars and the stars in turn formed the elements of the universe through heat and pressure. Time is most accurately measured by the decay of the radioactive isotopes contained within some of these elements as the half life measurement shows little change to normal outside influences other then speed. When speed is figured into the equation though then time becomes relative. This is observed most acutely at the event horizon of a singularity wherein the speed of an object passing over is so great that to an outside observer it ceases to move in time and becomes fixed. To the object, of course, time remains consistent as it is in sync with the speed it is traveling. Interestingly enough, time itself doesn't exist for a particle of light because it has no mass and is therefore dedicated totally to speed. This is what enables us to "see" the early universe when we look out into deep space. We see timeless light.
2006-07-27 21:01:36 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time is a state of mind. It matters only when we make it matter. However, it is difficult for me to approach this matter without considering God. (No, I am not about to preach, but please read entirely before dismissing me.) I believe that He lives out of time, meaning that time does not apply to Him. As C.S. Lewis similarly said, God, the writer of the story, may have hours between one thing that happens in Sally's world (a knock at the door) and another thing (opening the door,) while Sally experiences only a few seconds. Since I do not believe that God exists in time, it does not affect all things. More specifically, it does not affect spiritual things. Thus, if we are connected with God, it cannot affect our souls. It seems that we have created time only because we feel surrounded by it. We live in degenerating bodies, so we feel that we, too, must live in such a restraint. If there is no end to a thing, such as a soul, how can it possibly exist in something like time? If you believe that our souls do cease to exist, then my theory would be completely blown and pointless as time would then be the most powerful thing to run our lives, it would seem. Sorry about the length, by the way.
2006-07-27 20:34:56 · answer #3 · answered by Jack 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A method of measurement based loosely on the length of daylight
or the relativity or night and day.
This is also based on the phases of the earths moon.
Another answer might be Time is a concept devised by man
to determine the length of the day;
The anwerer to your question will vary from one culture to another as well.
2006-07-27 19:53:48 · answer #4 · answered by Renegade 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Numbers are only symbols, a way for human beings to project order upon the universe. They are a language more precise than words. Numbers are important to master, but take care to look beyond language and numbers to the true reality that they foreshadow.
2006-07-27 21:51:16 · answer #5 · answered by flamboyant_artist 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We probably can't know. To know the truth about time from the perspective of the universe, we would have to be immune to it - which we are not.
From a human perspective, time is a measure of our experience as we know it. This definition could be relatively meaningless from the perspective of the universe, but it seems to do well enough for us.
2006-07-27 21:08:53 · answer #6 · answered by curious 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. it`s something we use 2 quantify history (ours, theirs...).
2. a somewhat abstract notion
3. the 4th dimension
4. free unlinked quotation: "the meaning of life is a letter. and that letter is the letter A". then, probably, as humanity has it -->
5. the letter B
2006-07-27 20:15:52 · answer #7 · answered by Ot! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I poor means for the human to cope with its aging and the failing of its body and mind.
If the human body did not fail us, would we truly care how long we were here?
2006-07-27 19:56:56 · answer #8 · answered by demonicdisciple 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing but a measurement like length or weight or distance.
2006-07-27 19:50:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The expansion of the universe.
2006-07-27 20:29:13 · answer #10 · answered by sauwelios@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋